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Rating: 
Summary: We just love this book!
Review: Although this book's illustrations depict this little family as being kind-hearted and caring, the book continues to promote inappropriate behavior towards stray animals. What a shame that poor "Willy" wasn't taken immediately to the local SPCA where the family could have asked that they be notified if the dog was not claimed thereupon adopting the dog after properly following the law with regard to stray animals. The story still would have worked and the family still could have pined over the animal all week long wondering if they'd be able to bring him home. How sad that the story depicts the family "saving" the animal from the dog catcher. Apparently the dog catcher was the only chance this dog had to actually be returned to its own family before the "new" family removed it completely from the community in which it was lost.What a shame that this book has won an award thereby giving its inappropriate message public validation. I hope that the Humane Society of the U.S. pushes for a disclaimer to be published in the book stating that the story is only fantasy and that stray dogs (cats and rabbits too), by law, should be turned in to local authorities, SPCA or Humane Society, so that the animal's own family can be given an opportunity to be reunited with their animal.
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming and not at all schmaltzy
Review: Anyone with a soft spot for animals will love this colorful picture book about a charming stray dog and the family that can't get him off their minds even after they leave him to fend for himself in a park. Of course they go back to the park to look for him, and they find him just in the nick of time. I love the way the quick-thinking boy and girl fashion a collar and leash for the dog out of their own clothing, claiming him as their own before the nasty dogcatcher can nab him. My heart is doing happy little flips just thinking about it!
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I bought this book in a paperback version at a book fair. I heard good things about it and I like Marc Simont's illustrations in other books. I picked it up because it is a Caldecott Honor Book. It turns out to be a beautiful story that everyone in the family will enjoy. It is based on a true story but depicted in a way that children can understand the storyline easily. It shows children that fall in love with a stray and the parents tell the kids that the dog must belong to someone else. Eventually, everyone in the family is thinking about the dog and what happened with him. At the end of the week, they return to find the dog running from the dog catcher. I am not sure if children are familiar with dog catchers but it can lead into a discussion. It shows that the family is willing to take on the responsibility of loving a stray. It shows empathy to animals and caring by kids. Children need to learn love animals but to be careful of stray animals. However, children will be moved by this sweet story and cheer for the dog! I definitely recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: The Stray Dog
Review: My children(ages 6,4,2) and I love this book. It has a lovely little story with a very nice message. Any parent or child who loves animals, especially dogs, will love this story. The illustrations are lovely too. Highly recommended for children aged 2-8.
Rating:
Summary: Love at First Sight
Review: One Saturday a very nice family of four go to the park for a picnic and find a straggly stray pup. They name him Willy and spend the day playing with him. When it's time to pack up and go, the children want to take Willy home with them, but their parents tell them no, Willy probably belongs to someone else and they sadly leave him behind. The next week is excruciatingly long and whole family spends it thinking about Willy. When Saturday comes, they go back to the park on the pretense of another picnic, but are really hoping to find Willy. Just when they think they'll never see him again, he appears, in the dog catcher's net. Happily, the family claims him...Willy's found a new home and they've found a new pet..... Award winner, Marc Simont has written a lovely, gentle, true to life story that will capture your family's heart. His simple and straighforward text is only outdone by his very detailed and expressive artwork. While looking at these illustrations, youngsters will actually feel the joy of finding this little furry friend, sense the sadness of leaving him behind and worry, right along with the family, about his welfare. This is a terrific picture book, perfect for kids aged 3-7, your entire family can share and a wonderful addition to all home libraries.
Rating:
Summary: The Stray Dog
Review: Wonderful, imaginative, beautifully illustrated.
My ghost-reviewer and alterior reason for buying this book (a.k.a. my daughter) gives it two little thumbs up. She loves it and we keep on reading it to her.
This book is a must!
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